The Nelyar ("The Third") were the largest of the three houses of the Elves. According to legend, the Teleri were descended from Enel, the third Elf to awake in Cuiviénen, his spouse Enelyë and their seventy-two companions; most of the Avari originally belonged to this clan. But it was Elwë, the first of the Teleri to come to Valinor, who became their king.

In ancient times they named themselves Lindar, or "Singers", because they were known for their fair voice.

Contents

History

During the Great Journey

When the Valar decided to bring the Quendi to Aman, they chose three ambassadors. Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë traveled there and tried to convice their people to make the journey. Many of them, particularly of the Nelyar clan, refused, and were named Avari, "The Unwilling".

The Teleri clan, led by Elwë and his brother Olwë was the last clan to depart, and they were the only ones who were unwilling to leave the wild lands of Middle-earth. After traveling for many years, the Teleri stopped near river Anduin being frightened by the Hithaeglir (Misty Mountains). Then a group led by Lenwë departed from the journey and headed south. They were called the Nandor. Eventually, the other Teleri passed the Misty Mountains and dwelt in eastern Beleriand near the river Gelion.

That was the time when Elwë fell in love with Melian the Maia and became separated from the Teleri, standing in the forest of Nan Elmoth for a long time only staring at her. Some Teleri, especially his friends and close relatives were searching for him for a long time.

When the Vanyar and the Noldor traveled into the West, the Teleri were living near the Gelion and did not hear Ulmo's call. When they learned that the others had traveled, they headed to the shores of Beleriand near the mouth of the river Sirion waiting for Ulmo. The Maia Ossë kept them company while they waited, and became their friend. Seeing that Elwë had disappeared, they made Olwë their only High King.

Later, when Ulmo arrived again with the island ferry, most of the Teleri agreed to travel. Again, there were some who wanted to stay with Ossë, and they were known as Falathrim, led by Círdan. After Elwë was found again and Círdan accepted him as King of Beleriand, the folk of both Elwë and Círdan became collectively known as the Sindar, who also called themselves the Eglath.

After the Great Journey

The island was stabilized by Ulmo near the Bay of Eldamar, and it was named Tol Eressëa, The Lonely Island. The Teleri lived there for many years until they felt that they should see the other Eldar who lived in Aman proper. With the help of Ossë they built ships and traveled to the coasts of Aman, where they dwelt. There Olwë built Alqualondë, the greatest city of Teleri, and its people were united with the people of Tirion and Finwë.

Later, when Melkor stole the Silmarils, the Noldor led by Fëanor demanded that the Teleri let them use their ships. When the Teleri refused, they took the ships by force, committing the First Kinslaying. For this reason few or none of the Teleri joined the host of the Valar which at the end of the First Age set out to capture Morgoth for good. It is recounted that the Teleri eventually forgave the Noldor for the Kinslayings, and the two kindreds were at peace again.

Sundering of Teleri

Falmari. Led by Olwë, they (along with Elwë and his direct descendants) were the only Calaquendi of the Teleri clan. They lived in Tol Eressëa and along the east shores of Aman.

Nandor Teleri who abandoned the Great Journey near river Anduin, led by Lenwë.

Sindar All Teleri who remained in Beleriand. The Sindar of Beleriand called themselves simply Edhil, which means Elves, and is related to the Quenya word Eldar of the same meaning. Elwë was their King. These were further divided into:

Mithrim[1], or Sindar of the North, those who lived in Northern Beleriand: in Hithlum, especially in the area called after them Mithrim, in Dorthonion or in Nevrast. They suffered most from Morgoth's attacks before the first rising of the Sun, and their remnants were largely absorbed by the Noldor who afterwards occupied those lands.

Language

The Teleri spoke the Common Telerin language during the Journey, from which Sindarin (with its dialects of Doriathrin, Falathrin and North Sindarin) and Nandorin were derived, as well as the Telerin of Aman, often considered a dialect of Quenya (if only by virtue that it preserved more of the archaic Common Eldarin features than any other language and remained mutually intelligible with Quenya).

Etymology

In The Silmarillion the word Teleri refers both to the Third Clan in general, and that branch that made it to Aman, taken from the Vanyar and Noldor point of view; particularly the Teleri of Aman were called Falmari.

Names

Equivalent names of the Teleri were Nelyar and Lindar. Lindar (Quenya "singers", pron. [ˈlindar]) was the name by which the Teleri called themselves.

Another name was SindarinGlinnil (sing Glinnel), a name which appears to have been used only by the loremasters among the Eldar.[2]

The Teleri were also known by many other names: the Foam-riders, the Singers of the Shore, the Free, the Swift, the Arrow-elves, the Elves of the Sea, the Ship-wrights, the Swanherds, the Gatherers of Pearl, the Blue Elves, and the people of Olwë.[3]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the early versions of Tolkien's mythology (see: The History of Middle-earth), they were known as Solosimpi ("Pipers of the Shores"), while the name Teleri was given to the clan of Elves known in the published version of The Silmarillion as Vanyar.